Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Korea
Common Values, Principles, and Strategy

On May 14, 2003, President George W. Bush of the United States of
America and President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea held a
summit meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. Noting that 2003
marks the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty,
the two leaders pledged to work together to promote the values of
democracy, human rights and market economy shared by the people of both
nations and to build a comprehensive and dynamic alliance relationship
for continued peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in
Northeast Asia.

The U.S.-ROK Alliance

President Bush and President Roh welcomed the fiftieth anniversary
of the U.S.-ROK alliance and paid tribute to those who have contributed
to the alliance, particularly the Korean host communities and the
members of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) who have devoted themselves to
the defense of peace and freedom on the peninsula. President Bush
reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a robust forward presence on the
peninsula and in the Asia- Pacific region. The two leaders pledged to
work closely together to modernize the U.S.-ROK alliance, taking
advantage of technology to transform both nations' forces and enhance
their capabilities to meet emerging threats.

In the context of modernizing the alliance, the two leaders agreed
to work out plans to consolidate U.S. forces around key hubs and to
relocate the Yongsan garrison at an early date. President Bush pledged
to consult closely with President Roh on the appropriate posture for
USFK during the transition to a more capable and sustainable U.S.
military presence on the peninsula. They shared the view that the
relocation of U.S. bases north of the Han River should be pursued,
taking careful account of the political, economic and security
situation on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The two leaders also
noted the opportunity provided by the Republic of Korea's growing
national strength to continue expanding the role of the ROK armed
forces in defending the Korean Peninsula.

President Bush and President Roh welcomed the growing bilateral
U.S.-ROK cooperation on international security challenges beyond the
Korean Peninsula. President Bush thanked President Roh for his support
on Iraq and welcomed the Republic of Korea's decision to deploy medical
and construction units and undertake other efforts to assist with
post-conflict humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq.
President Roh expressed his support for U.S. and international efforts
to establish lasting peace and security in the Middle East. The two
leaders also reviewed progress and cooperation in the war on terror,
noting the contribution of ROK forces to Operation Enduring Freedom and
Afghan reconstruction.

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the alliance, the two
Presidents welcomed the convening of forums of experts to conduct
discussions on the future of U.S.-ROK relations and to generate fresh
ideas for both governments.

North Korea

President Bush and President Roh reaffirmed that they will not
tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea. They noted with serious
concern North Korea's statements about reprocessing, possession of
nuclear weapons, and its threat to demonstrate or transfer these
weapons. They stressed that escalatory moves by North Korea will only
lead to its greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the
North.

Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to work for the
complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's
nuclear weapons program through peaceful means based on international
cooperation. They welcomed the role played by China at the April 23-25
trilateral talks in Beijing. They agreed that the Republic of Korea
and Japan are essential for a successful and comprehensive settlement
and that Russia and other nations can also play a constructive role in
multilateral diplomacy. While noting that increased threats to peace
and stability on the peninsula would require consideration of further
steps, they expressed confidence that a peaceful resolution can be
achieved.

Noting that the United States and the Republic of Korea are the two
leading donors of humanitarian food assistance to North Korea, the two
Presidents reaffirmed that humanitarian assistance is provided without
linkage to political developments and noted the need to ensure that the
assistance goes to those in need. President Bush stressed that North
Korea's nuclear programs stand in the way of the bold approach and the
ability of the international community to consider comprehensive steps
to assist the many needs of the North Korean people.

President Roh outlined his Peace and Prosperity Policy and
President Bush reiterated his support for the process of South-North
reconciliation. President Bush noted that the Republic of Korea has
used this dialogue channel to call upon the North to resolve the
nuclear issue. President Roh stated that future inter-Korean exchanges
and cooperation will be conducted in light of developments on the North
Korean nuclear issue. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to
maintaining close coordination between the U.S. and ROK governments on
this issue as well as in trilateral consultations with Japan.

Economic Relations

The two leaders agreed on the importance of working together to
promote prosperity in their two countries, in the region, and around
the world. They agreed that Korea's economic fundamentals are strong
and expressed high confidence in the prospects for continued increases
in trade, investment and growth in the Republic of Korea. President
Bush welcomed and supported President Roh's commitment to continued
structural reform of the Korean economy and his goal of making Korea a
regional hub for trade, finance, and investment in Northeast Asia. The
two leaders agreed that progress on open trade, investment, and
transparency are essential to making this hub concept a reality, and
recognized the important role of the private sector in this effort.

The two leaders expressed a desire for enhanced bilateral economic
cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to resolve bilateral trade
issues through consultation, and agreed to explore ways to further
strengthen the already close economic and trade partnership.
Recognizing the importance of global trade liberalization, the two
leaders expressed their determination to work together to achieve a
successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda. The two leaders
also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the APEC forum.

Toward a Full Partnership

Taking note of the one hundredth anniversary of Korean immigration
to the United States, President Bush conveyed his deep respect not only
for the contributions of Korean-Americans to American society but also
for the ideals of democracy, peace and prosperity realized by the
citizens of the Republic of Korea. President Roh extended his
appreciation to the U.S. government and its people for all that has
been done to help Korean-Americans realize their dreams in American
society.

President Bush and President Roh highlighted the importance of
increasing bilateral cooperation across a broad range of global
issues. In this context, the two leaders welcomed U.S. and ROK
cooperation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
(ITER) project, in the Global Forum on Corruption to be held in Seoul
later this month, and on other efforts to improve the environment and
combat crime and infectious diseases around the globe.

The two leaders agreed that their frequent telephone calls since
President Roh's election in December and their substantial discussion
in Washington have built a personal foundation of mutual trust and
respect that will enhance U.S.-ROK coordination on North Korea and
other challenges in the months and years ahead. President Roh thanked
President Bush for his hospitality and invited him to make a return
visit to Seoul at his convenience. President Bush said he looked
forward to another visit to the Republic of Korea.